The Royal Opera has commissioned a new full-length opera from composer George Benjamin and playwright Martin Crimp, whose most recent collaboration Written on Skin was performed by The Royal Opera to acclaim earlier this Season.

The new as-yet-untitled opera, which is expected to be done in partnership with several other opera companies, will have its world premiere at Covent Garden in 2018.

‘We are delighted that – following the incredible success of Written on Skin, which seems to be conquering the world – George Benjamin and Martin Crimp have agreed to write a brand new full-scale opera for the main stage at Covent Garden’, said Kasper Holten, Director of Opera. ‘It is hard to imagine a better match between a composer and a writer.’

As part of the ROH partnership with the BBC, Written on Skin will be broadcast by BBC Radio 3’sOpera on 3 on Saturday 22 June at 6pm, and relayed on television by BBC Four on Friday 28 June at 7:30pm. The CD recording is also available to buy online, and the production has been recorded for release on DVD in due course. It will be revived by The Royal Opera in 2017.

Earlier this season, Kasper and Music Director Antonio Pappano announced their plans to focus on new commissions over the coming years.